2014 Atomic Spectrometry Update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

This review describes advances in the continued expansion of work using the XRF group of techniques published approximately between April 2013 and March 2014. Specialised laboratory instrumentation, X-ray sources, detector development and data processing continue unabated. It is remarkable how quickly hand-held XRF instrumentation has developed to the point where many examples of its use are included in the various application sections of this review, rather than in the instrumentation section. Several new beam lines and their new end-stations were described in publications from SR research centres around the world. More analysts are attracted to TXRF and related techniques with new sample preparation techniques offered for an expanding range of applications. Nanoparticles and nanomaterials feature throughout this review particularly in clinical, biological and environmental studies. A novel approach for the reuse of industrial by-products described how acid mine drainage sludge and coal fly ash facilitated the problem of the high levels of phosphate present in waste waters (cow dung) from the dairy industry. The archaeological and cultural heritage section often includes good news stories. This year we learn how an XRF mapping technique was used to show that Pablo Picasso used a popular brand of French house paint in his works of art.